[Rodneygsturgeon]

I have a surge suppressor I paid $85.00 for. It is the kind that plugs directly into the wall outlet. My question is, can I use an extension cord to plug my computer, monitor, and printer into the suppressor?

[biggsie]

I think the thing to remember is 3 prong plugs -- Two prong plugs are a NO No

Your computer and monitor have 3 prong plugs -- The surpressor has 3 prong

The outlet has 3 prong -- wired in panel HOT --- Neutral --- GROUND

The exceptions are adapters that power printer -- scanner -- Speakers

Please rate my answer

TO : Keep It Simple Stupid -- For device To be Protected 3 prongs needed

[KISS]

I'll assume that the supressor uses all three prongs or 3 * 2.

The "system" will be more "effective" when a thicker cord is used, so I would recommend an outlet strip with 14 AWG wire rather than an "extension cord". i.e. a 14 AWG cord is better than a 16 AWG cord. An outlet strip is probably better than a cord.

Biggsie: explain 2 prong?

2 prong devices can be protected with a 3 prong suppressor to the extent that a 2 prong device can. It's important that the 3 prong suppressor be properly grounded. This should happen without doing anything out of the ordinary.

[Tj3]

To address the point regarding 2 or 3 prong plugs:

Surge suppressors vary in quality. Good ones will have protectors from line to line, and from each line to ground. If you want full protection, as has been suggested by others, you MUST have three prong plugs. If you do not, the surge suppressors which are often the most important ones (to ground) will be completely useless as they are disconnected from ground.

It is comparable to a car. You take one wheel off - will it still move? Yes, but not properly, nor will it be a usable machine. Likewise with a suppressor - if you remove the ground, you have effectively disabled the device from performing its function properly.

Now, to get directly to the question at hand, the suppressors which plug directly into the wall typically have one or two sockets maximum, and therefore are intended primary for a single device, not for a system. There are a few things that you need to consider:

1) Check the current rating of the device. If you are hooking up multiple devices to a surge module intended for a single device, you may be drawing more current than it is rated for, and may end up causing a possible fire hazard. The same goes for non-surge protected devices also. You should always allow at least a 25% margin between the current that you are drawing and the rating if the surge device.

2) If the device plugs directly into the socket, and you plug an extension cord into it, you may find that the extension cord, depending upon the size of the cable, may put strain on the socket itself, because it is not designed for downward pressure like that. That could, over time, potentially damage the device or the socket to which it is attached, and in so doing cause a fire hazard. If the extension cord is of a small gauge, it may not be an issue, but a smaller gauge cord will also have a lower current rating.

If you wish to plug a number of devices into it, the better choice would be to go out and buy a surge protected power bar. They provide the same protection, only for each socket, and can rest on the floor, and you will have plenty of sockets into which to plug system devices.

[KISS]

These 2-outlet versions are of the $85.00 quality and come with a protected equipment warranty. Tripp Lite Isobar Surge Suppressors

And it is the type of device I am assuming you have.

There is the ambiguous part of Biggsie's answer as to whether two-prong power packs are protected? That answer is yes.

I don't think it's likely to find an outlet mounted surge suppressor that costs $85.00 with only line to line protection.

[labman]

Plug it in. I am sure the extension cord hanging on the outlet won't damage it any more than a device cord would. Most surge protectors work by having varistors across lines. Any decent one has 3 and will short out any over voltage between any 2 lines. Since that includes one between hot and neutral, it will protect 2 prong devices. Such protection is independent of the load.

There are surge protectors that use a different technology, inductors. They are a coil that passes 60 Hertz current, but not higher frequencies. While it is true lightning is DC, it is high frequency pulsed DC. I think they make a good case at Surge Protectors, Surge Protector Manufacturers - Brick Wall. Such devices are in series with the load, and would have to be sized for it. They would also give protection even without the third prong equipment ground being connected.

I have recently added a whole house surge protector to my breaker box. It is a GE THQL Surge Pro. I am planning to add inductors to some of my hardwired devices such as my pump and furnace. I already had to put in one $300 board in the furnace and pumps seem to be a favorite lightning target. With more appliances coming with electronic controls, it may be well to add surge protections for them. The whole house surge protector only knocks surges down to 600 volts. They are meant to protect other surge protectors, not devices.

Brickwall has whole house surge protectors, but installing them means working with your main electric service, out of the question for a DIY.

[Tj3]

Go ahead and plug it in. I am sure the extension cord hanging on the outlet won't damage it any more than a device cord would.

As a safety engineer working in this field, I have to disagree. Whether a cord hanging off a wallmount protective device will be a potential safety issue WILL depend upon the weight of the cord.

[labman]

And where is it set in stone that an extension cord is heavier than a device cord? Most outlets are18'' from the floor and the outlet only supports a short length of cord.

Now I have had some heavy duty 12 and 14 gauge extension cords for a long time, and have yet to have one damage anything they were plugged into.

[Tj3]

And where is it set in stone that an extension cord is heavier than a device cord? Most outlets are18'' from the floor and the outlet only supports a short length of cord.

Whoa fella - please read what I said - I said that it would depend upon the weight of the cord. I have seen some that might be okay, and others that would be definite issues.

Now I have had some heavy duty 12 and 14 gauge extension cords for a long time, and have yet to have one damage anything they were plugged into.

Again, read what I said - I was referred to plugging them specifcially into a wallmount surge protective device.

Please do not take what I said out of context of the rest of my comments.